Turkey Scholarships for Pakistani Students 2019-2020

Are you looking for Turkey scholarships for Pakistani students but don’t know where to begin? Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. 

Thanks to the Turkiye Burslari Scholarship Programme, you can apply for a range of programs, including undergraduate, graduate and research, at some of the most prestigious universities in Turkey. 

What is Turkiye Burslari Scholarship Programme?

Turkiye Burslari is a state-funded scholarship programme that was launched in 2012 by the supervision of Turkey’s Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB). The award welcomes students from all over the world and has been a tremendous success since its creation. In fact, earlier this year, the Turkish government announced that it had received the highest number of applications in nearly seven years.

“There were nearly 42,000 applications to the scholarship program in 2012. Now, we have got 145,700 applications from 167 countries for 2019 and this sets a record,” Abdullah Eren, head of the YTB, stated in March, according to Anadolu Agency, an international news agency based in Ankara.

Besides offering educational programs aligned with international standards of learning to deserving students to pursue either full-time or short-term courses, Turkiye Burslari aims to strengthen relations with other countries.

Here’s a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions regarding Turkey scholarship for Pakistani students – 2019 -2020

• What are the programmes offered by Turkiye Burslari Scholarship Programme? 
• What does the scholarship cover? 
• What is the selection criteria for Turkiye Burslari Scholarships? 
• How to apply for Turkiye Burslari Scholarships? 
• What are the documents required for online applications?
• What is the evaluation process? 

What are the programmes offered by Turkiye Burslari Scholarship Programme?

There’s a wide spectrum of scholarship programmes offered by the Turkish government for Pakistani students. To help students get acquainted with universities and academic programs, candidates are provided with a guide called Turkiye Scholarships Information System on Turkiye Burslari’s website. 

Here’s a list of programs currently being offered by the Turkish Government Scholarship: 

Full-time courses: Full-time programs are referred to as degree programs that can last for up to 5 years. The degree programs offered in this full-time courses comprise graduate, masters and postgraduate.  

Short-term courses: Any academic program that is sponsored for up to 1 year is a short-term course. In short-term programs, students are provided with the same support and funds but for a specific forte. 

Turkish Language & Cultural Programmes: Turkish language programmes are the most popular courses among officials, ambassadors, academicians, scholars and researchers who wish to explore Turkish culture through learning their language. 

Partnered Programmes: Partnered programmes are tailored in association with several international organisations and public institutions tailored for specific and targeted groups.

What does the scholarship cover? 

Turkey scholarships programmes for Pakistani students enable them to benefit from the same amenities as their Turkish counterparts enrolled in the same course. The sponsorship can be different for each programme, though. Here’s an overview: 

What is the selection criteria for Turkiye Burslari Scholarships? 

The best thing about Turkey scholarships is that it offers foreign scholarships for Pakistani students in almost every subject – from engineering to medicine to social sciences. However,  candidates must have at least 70% to be qualified for graduate courses, while a minimum score of 75% is required for getting a grant in masters and PhD courses. Comparatively, the selection criteria is more competitive for health sciences which is at least 90% in the previously studied course. Here is the age criteria for graduate and postgraduate programmes:

Graduate: under the age of 21 

Master’s: under the age of 30

PhD: under the age of 35 

Moreover, there are no such restrictions placed on the nationality except for the citizens of Turkey which implies that anyone from around the world is eligible to apply. 

How to apply for Turkey government scholarships? 

If you wish to study in Turkey and apply for scholarship programmes offered by the Turkish government, you can apply via the official website of Turkiye Burslari Scholarships. You have to be extremely careful with scams because the official website claims that they have no other portals. Here’s a list for a few more things to know before you gather your documents and start your process:

• Carefully read the warnings and instructions given in the application system
• Do not forget to upload any required documents
• Applications are only accepted online through the application system
• The application process doesn’t have any charges 
• The scholarship programme comprises both, sponsorship and university placement 

What are the documents required for online applications? 

Since applications are only accepted via the portal of Turkiye Burslari Scholarships, applicants are advised to attach the below-mentioned documents when they’re submitting the application: 

• Valid passport or CNIC 
• A recent photograph in portrait form 
• Last academic transcripts 
• Reference/certificate from the previous academy 
• ESL transcript (if required)
• An abstract/proposal of research paper – for candidates applying for PhD 

What is the evaluation process? 

The recipients are evaluated based on their academic achievement and overall performance in extra-curricular activities including their professional skills and experience. Here’s an overview of the evaluation process: 

To begin with the evaluation process, all the applications are reviewed under the primary assessment area to check all the required documents and if they match the selection criteria they are shortlisted for the interview. The interview call is given to candidates who have exceptional achievements in their professional and academic career. While it lasts for around 30 minutes, candidates are often asked about the reason behind their enthusiasm to apply for the scholarship. It is conducted in the below-mentioned format:

• Introduction of the candidate
• Reviewing credentials  
• Academic knowledge and a few other general questions

Moving forward, candidates who receive an interview call are required to appear with all the transcripts. Depending on the outcome of the interview, candidates are then nominated and invited to study in Turkey.  

Before planning to study in Turkey, please note that most of the programs are offered in the Turkish language. There are a few exceptions, but candidates who wish to study in English should possess an ESL certificate like TOEFL, IELTS and other equivalent certificates. Mode of instructions is usually mentioned in the application system with the relevant university. On the other hand, some programs also ask for international admission test scores such as GRE, GMAT and SAT.

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